Classic Electric you are simply The Best! Thank you for sharing your information for all to learn & certainly appreciate the intricacies of being a Electrician! Awesome.
You really work safely. Good to see mistakes you're not proud of. We all make them! Also, super clever to use a blank plate to patch a siding crack. Super clever.
Yes. The external disconnect is now the main panel. The ground are connected to disconnect via a copper cable. The neutral and grounds are bonded here.
The egc’s and neutral are bonded at first point of disconnect. Thereafter, neutrals and egc’s are separated. This is to prevent objectionable current on the neutral. Electricity takes ALL paths of resistance, not just the least path.
Hey Ron. Any tips on strapping the SE cable straight down the siding into the meter? I find it tough to use the level on the cable and end up asking for an eyeball from the ground before placing the strap. Kind of annoying, and since I know you do these solo you’d be the right person to ask. Thank you!
Hey partner! That’s not a Myers hub! A Myers hub is like a bonding bushing and a watertight hub all in one; you maintain continuity and are able to install a watertight seal anywhere you need to. I just call the ones for the meter and disconnect “hubs” and most supply houses know what I’m talking about. Be safe brother!
Nice tutorial Ron. Quick question though. If a 200A service rated disconnect is installed they way you did, is it still required to have a 200A breaker in the main breaker panel? I just did one of these for a friend and his main breaker panel has no main breaker. I am hearing conflicted info as to whether it is required or not. Thanks in advance.
You can still employ the 200A breaker on the inside panel but the ground and neutrals must be isolated. The grounding electrodes and the main bonding jumper are always installed at the main disconnect.
I observed two grounding conductors leaving the main disconnect panel. Can I assume that both were connected together at the grounding point? Can I assume that is were the grounding conductor and the neutral are bonded together? Thanks
question ..does having a external disconnect make the indoor panel now a sub panel and you can no longer bond the ground and neutral in the indoor panel? Also does installing the external disconnect now mean the indoor panel can be a main lug on panel ? Thanks!
Yes. Everything gets separated downstream of the disconnect. No. Keep the 200a main breaker in the panel. Easier to work on circuits and it's already there. No point in doing all of that. But you can
Ron excellent video!!!. I still have some questions: a) If you upgrade 100 A SE panel to 200A, How you manage with the Utility Company the new meter base installation? In my best understanding, the Utility company install the new meter. b) having a 200A emergency disconnect means the new panel upgraded does not need the main breaker? , c) my new panel is located in the garden path (inside the LOT), Is this location permitted to install the 200A Emergency Disconnect?
Hi there, love your work.. So scary though working on them main lines. Quick question if you may, is there a reason not to setup the disconnect to the right of the meter fro example? (especially at homes where meter is installed low). This assuming that ythe disconnect and and the meter box support side connections and to cap any existing holes left.
Where a feeder supplies continuous loads or any combination of continuous and noncontinuous loads, the minimum feeder conductor size shall have an ampacity not less than the noncontinuous load plus 125 percent of the continuous load.
Also would never install a service drop into the meter base without it being in conduit as I've went in on several that were done that way and after a few years the insulation breaks down in the sun and cracks open allowing water into cable and corroding the neutral conductor causing into fail . And I would never handle the hot utility wires without proper insulated tools. There are basically no fuses on it and one slip and you are gone . Not to mention not at least using insulated gloves
You don't need to worry. I'm sure his wife had him get a significant life insurance policy and keeps the payments up to date. With me, safety never takes a ride in the back seat.
This is a service disconnect, not an emergency disconnect. Bushings are not required with cables. Bushings prevent conductors from being damaged when they’re being pulled into position.
07:18 Main disconnect; nice for the fire fighters; not so good for the homeowner. Main disconnect (on exterior) is loved by stalkers, psychopaths, Michael Myers and local teen pranksters. Is there a means for the homeowner to padlock the disconnect?
I suppose they can do whatever they want but not sure about legally or not. This house required the disconnect outside because the panel was relocated to more centrally located in the middle of the house.
Here in SE Florida most houses that have been built in the last 50 years have outdoor main disconnects and I have never seen one locked (they do have a means to padlock them). But I agree that if someone was up to no good it would be very easy to kill the power. Legally, it might be OK to lock until they are required by the 2020 code. After that, seems like it could be problematic, but fire departments do carry big bolt cutters with them.
This is "ENHANCED CONTENT" directly from the NFPA website which I subscribe to for reference the NEC online. This section recognizes the need for an outdoor disconnect for first responders. Until now, first responders and utility personnel have not had a way to safely remove power from a structure. This new requirement mandates that a means to disconnect the electric utility be located in a readily accessible, outdoor location. Mounting the emergency disconnect in a readily accessible location does not preclude locking the disconnect in the “on” position.
While I like the video if you mess with the service drop from utility company or the meter you could go to jail. We are not allowed to disconnect or reconnect the drop and it must be done by the utility company and only after it is inspected by local inspector . I have a service change out to do (replacing existing breaker panel and meter base and adding a 200 Amp disconnect ) and I had to schedule with local utility to disconnect service then I will change it all over then get inspected before utility will reconnect
Jesse - with all due respect, power company rules vary from state to state. Our labor agreement here in NJ allows for licensed electricians to cut-out and cut-in without the assistance of the power company. This JCPL territory.
Electrician here from MN, it is also allowed where I live, I have disconnected and reconnected power lines at least a hundred times. However, power company does come back after electrical inspection to make permanent connection and tag meter.
*Ron:* _"Hey, what are you in for?"_ *Rocky:* _"I killed 2 people in a bar fight. I'm doing 15 to 20. What about you - what are you in for?"_ *Ron:* _"I connected a service line by myself..... Doing 110 to 220."_
SE cable is allowed in some jurisdictions. In the Northeast it is very common. Never see it used here in SE Florida on anything built in the last 50-60 years.
Agreed - especially up on the ladder, working on live wires, and posting it on TH-cam. It could also be a reason for an insurance company to deny an injury claim.
Classic Electric you are simply The Best! Thank you for sharing your information for all to learn & certainly appreciate the intricacies of being a Electrician! Awesome.
Thanks Mom!
You really work safely. Good to see mistakes you're not proud of. We all make them! Also, super clever to use a blank plate to patch a siding crack. Super clever.
Thank you! There's always a way to get things done. As entrepreneurs, that is our job!
Another Classic job. Thanks Ron😊
Isn't neutral ground separation at breaker panel a necessary job after you add a external disconnect?
Yes. The external disconnect is now the main panel. The ground are connected to disconnect via a copper cable. The neutral and grounds are bonded here.
The egc’s and neutral are bonded at first point of disconnect. Thereafter, neutrals and egc’s are separated. This is to prevent objectionable current on the neutral. Electricity takes ALL paths of resistance, not just the least path.
@@argekay1960 I know all this, but he didn't show that.
Love your videos. Thank you for sharing your knowledge. Much appreciated.
Hey Ron. Any tips on strapping the SE cable straight down the siding into the meter? I find it tough to use the level on the cable and end up asking for an eyeball from the ground before placing the strap. Kind of annoying, and since I know you do these solo you’d be the right person to ask. Thank you!
I usually eyeball it but I have used a 4’ level and drawn plumb line where I want the strap placed in the past. Great question!
Can you do a video on relocating the panel?
Hey partner! That’s not a Myers hub!
A Myers hub is like a bonding bushing and a watertight hub all in one; you maintain continuity and are able to install a watertight seal anywhere you need to.
I just call the ones for the meter and disconnect “hubs” and most supply houses know what I’m talking about.
Be safe brother!
Nice tutorial Ron. Quick question though. If a 200A service rated disconnect is installed they way you did, is it still required to have a 200A breaker in the main breaker panel?
I just did one of these for a friend and his main breaker panel has no main breaker. I am hearing conflicted info as to whether it is required or not. Thanks in advance.
You can still employ the 200A breaker on the inside panel but the ground and neutrals must be isolated. The grounding electrodes and the main bonding jumper are always installed at the main disconnect.
I have a question on why you needed to replace meter socket and feeders
thanks so much for the information!
I'd want some weather/bug protection in those holes in my house before throwing the conduit in and a plate on
I'm trying to figure out how you got this disconnect with barriers on the lugs
I observed two grounding conductors leaving the main disconnect panel. Can I assume that both were connected together at the grounding point? Can I assume that is were the grounding conductor and the neutral are bonded together? Thanks
I always wear gloves and got hit one time on the service line.
question ..does having a external disconnect make the indoor panel now a sub panel and you can no longer bond the ground and neutral in the indoor panel? Also does installing the external disconnect now mean the indoor panel can be a main lug on panel ? Thanks!
Yes. Everything gets separated downstream of the disconnect.
No. Keep the 200a main breaker in the panel. Easier to work on circuits and it's already there. No point in doing all of that. But you can
Thanks !!
Ron excellent video!!!. I still have some questions: a) If you upgrade 100 A SE panel to 200A, How you manage with the Utility Company the new meter base installation? In my best understanding, the Utility company install the new meter. b) having a 200A emergency disconnect means the new panel upgraded does not need the main breaker? , c) my new panel is located in the garden path (inside the LOT), Is this location permitted to install the 200A Emergency Disconnect?
is it ok to disconnect the service drop first and the remove the meter? thanks for sharing your knowledge btw! awsome!!!
I am a licensed electrician and yes my license permits me to do this work.
Another question Ron….. why didn’t you reuse Service entrance and conduit? Thanks
Hey, do you have any videos on bonding that disconnect outside, thank you?
This one is bonded outside. I have others and they’re all bonded outside at the main disconnect as required.
Hi there, love your work.. So scary though working on them main lines. Quick question if you may, is there a reason not to setup the disconnect to the right of the meter fro example? (especially at homes where meter is installed low). This assuming that ythe disconnect and and the meter box support side connections and to cap any existing holes left.
I could have put this one to the right but I don’t remember why I didn’t because this was like a year ago.
So with the new code. Do you have to upgrade the 4/0 ser to a bigger conductor from disconnect to panel? I’m hearing all diff kinds of answers
Where a feeder supplies continuous loads or any combination of continuous and noncontinuous loads, the minimum feeder conductor size shall have an ampacity not less than the noncontinuous load plus 125 percent of the continuous load.
So what size ser did you use
4/0 SER AL
@@garycunningham8478
Don’t you have to put ser cable
In the 60degree table chart?
@@garycunningham8478 4/0 is allowed for 200a houses per nec. Look into it
Is there a way to disconnect the line in from the meter box so it can be replaced without cutting it up by the roof?
Yes. Call the utility company.
Also would never install a service drop into the meter base without it being in conduit as I've went in on several that were done that way and after a few years the insulation breaks down in the sun and cracks open allowing water into cable and corroding the neutral conductor causing into fail . And I would never handle the hot utility wires without proper insulated tools. There are basically no fuses on it and one slip and you are gone . Not to mention not at least using insulated gloves
I have insulated gloves but it was too hot that day.
You don't need to worry. I'm sure his wife had him get a significant life insurance policy and keeps the payments up to date. With me, safety never takes a ride in the back seat.
@electricianron what brand barrel bugs are you using for the connects to the triplex?
What is that cutting tool called?
The ratchet cutter.
Why No 2 inch plastic bushing in ‘Em disconnect
This is a service disconnect, not an emergency disconnect. Bushings are not required with cables. Bushings prevent conductors from being damaged when they’re being pulled into position.
Why did you not run 2" pvc pipe
SEU is so much easier. I can't believe that is not standard all over the country.
How much the device cost and labor to do this kind of job?
$2500-$3500
How far south do you come?
Exit 91.
why dont you get shocked disconnecting the service wires ??
Because the electrons have no path to flow.
sorry is that because you have main breaker off because electric flows from top of meter to bottom @@electricalron ??
@@jamesrooney7689 no, it’s because current leaves the source and returns to the source. Without a conductive path the electrons have no path to flow.
👍
07:18 Main disconnect; nice for the fire fighters; not so good for the homeowner.
Main disconnect (on exterior) is loved by stalkers, psychopaths, Michael Myers and local teen pranksters.
Is there a means for the homeowner to padlock the disconnect?
I suppose they can do whatever they want but not sure about legally or not. This house required the disconnect outside because the panel was relocated to more centrally located in the middle of the house.
Here in SE Florida most houses that have been built in the last 50 years have outdoor main disconnects and I have never seen one locked (they do have a means to padlock them). But I agree that if someone was up to no good it would be very easy to kill the power.
Legally, it might be OK to lock until they are required by the 2020 code. After that, seems like it could be problematic, but fire departments do carry big bolt cutters with them.
@@ericjorgensen4826 Yes, fire fighters would have no difficulty getting through a padlock.
This is "ENHANCED CONTENT" directly from the NFPA website which I subscribe to for reference the NEC online.
This section recognizes the need for an outdoor disconnect for first responders. Until now, first responders and utility personnel have not had a way to safely remove power from a structure. This new requirement mandates that a means to disconnect the electric utility be located in a readily accessible, outdoor location. Mounting the emergency disconnect in a readily accessible location does not preclude locking the disconnect in the “on” position.
While I like the video if you mess with the service drop from utility company or the meter you could go to jail. We are not allowed to disconnect or reconnect the drop and it must be done by the utility company and only after it is inspected by local inspector . I have a service change out to do (replacing existing breaker panel and meter base and adding a 200 Amp disconnect ) and I had to schedule with local utility to disconnect service then I will change it all over then get inspected before utility will reconnect
Jesse - with all due respect, power company rules vary from state to state. Our labor agreement here in NJ allows for licensed electricians to cut-out and cut-in without the assistance of the power company. This JCPL territory.
Electrician here from MN, it is also allowed where I live, I have disconnected and reconnected power lines at least a hundred times. However, power company does come back after electrical inspection to make permanent connection and tag meter.
*Ron:* _"Hey, what are you in for?"_
*Rocky:* _"I killed 2 people in a bar fight. I'm doing 15 to 20. What about you - what are you in for?"_
*Ron:* _"I connected a service line by myself..... Doing 110 to 220."_
You need 2" pvc
No, I don't.
SE cable is allowed in some jurisdictions. In the Northeast it is very common. Never see it used here in SE Florida on anything built in the last 50-60 years.
nice work. Please wear gloves. set a good example.
Ok thank you
Agreed - especially up on the ladder, working on live wires, and posting it on TH-cam. It could also be a reason for an insurance company to deny an injury claim.
Can you do a video on relocating the panel?
Unfortunately, the footage did not come out very well. Poor lighting mostly.
@@electricalron damn hopefully on a future job. thanks for the great content btw!